Sillunu Oru Kadhal

My script writing course taught me how one needs to analyze characters of a movie before starting a script. We are asked to write a detailed history of characters so that it will help us know how they would react in different situations encountered during the story. Since then, I have analyzed the characters in the movies very closely and tried to understand the script writer’s thoughts.

Sillunu Oru kadhal (A Cool Lover story) is one of my favorite movies mainly because of the characterisation. The three central characters in the movie are one of the most beautifully etched characters I have seen so far.

Kundavi (Jyothika) – This is the first character the audience witness in the movie and is introduced as bubbly, naughty girl who desires to marry someone she loves. But faith has something else destined for her and she is married to a man she barely knows. One sees Kundavi grow through the movie; from a young girl to a woman and finally into someone with matured understanding of herself and her relationships.

Gautham (Surya) – Character of Gautham is mysterious in the beginning and as the movie proceeds one gets to view his transition from a young boy to a man; from a rouge to a compassionate human; His character shows the different shades of humans; how we once were and what we become due to the good or bad experiences in life. Gautham’s character in the movie Sillunu our Kadhal clearly explains the transition in a man’s life from being ignorant bachelor to becoming a responsible husband.

Aishwarya (Bhumika Chawla) – Third and my favorite character ever alongside the character of Vikram in Moksha. She is the most mysterious character in the film and yet in the end, is the only character you are bound to think about, due to her mysterious transition. One is provoked to think, what changes, the tragic incidents in life is bound to bring in people? What odds one may have to fight to overcome the pain? I simply love this characters since, unlike the other two, she is incomplete, and there is an intentional secrecy in her which makes one think of her and the reasons for her acts, even after the movie has ended.

Sillunu Our Kadhal is therefore all about these three characters. Interesting thing is that the actors perfectly suit the characters. I am a fan of Surya since I watched Ghajini and Kakha Kakha. He very nicely conveys the different shades of his character through his expressions. I have been a fan of Jyothika, since I watched her not so famous Tamil film – Snehidey(Friend) several years ago. She breathes life into the character of Kundavi. After watching this film, I have now become a fan of Bhumika as well. I think nobody else could have suited the role of Aishu best. The transition in the character is so well believable only because of her innocent face. One may clearly understand what I am saying if one has watched the movie.

Also, the interesting thing in this movie is that the characters interact less with themselves but more with the audience; may it be Kundavi interacting with audience through her life history or the diary that explains Gautham’s past. Additionaly, all the other characters in the movie are never aware of what is happening with the 3 central characters, so they behave like anyone normally would; kids behave kids; colleagues behave like colleagues and family like they are and never filmy because like in real life, all necessarily do not know what happens within us. I liked this style of story telling because it instantaneously connects the audience with the central characters and they become part of you. Nobody else but you know what the characters are going through. With all this, one can never forget to give the credit to the brilliant director and screenplay writers. Watch Sillunu Our Kadhal for some interesting characters and a fresh style of story telling.

Other recent movies I like for its characters are –

Gaalipata (Kannada)
Boomrilu (Telugu)
7G Rainbow Colony (Tamil)

What Have I Been Doing So Far?

I usually rotate my hobbies so that they keep me equally engaged. I had had too much of TRAVELING till April and so wanted to change to READING. I read 3 books –"My Days" by R K Narayan, "Argumentative Indian" by Amratya Sen & Collected plays –Part I by Girish Karnad; all three where different and very interesting. “My Days” was refreshing and inspiring; Amartya Sen’s book was informative but I thought may be it was slightly biased and the plays by Karnad where superb, thoughtful tales from history. By the end of third book I had had enough of reading so I started watching couple of MOVIES.

The best I watched was “7G Rainbow Colony”; a Tamil film. This film is based on a real life story and is simply outstanding for its story, direction and acting. The movie is so real indeed, for the way it has been shot. I even watched "Dashavataram" and liked Kamal Hassan for his talent and at the same time hated his movie "Veteyadu Velliyadu" for its horrible storyline, display and dullest love story ever. I watched "12B" and thought it had good concept but should have needed more polish; the love story lacked intimacy. Well that’s a lot of Tamil movies, isn’t it? I watched "Sarkar raj" and liked it because of the direction and twists in the story and Kannada movie “Autograph” which is a beautiful tale.

By now, I am bored of movies too; I have watched enough; so what next? May be WRITING. I am planning on writing my 20th short story. I have the storyline etched in my mind.

Here are few glimpses of my Mangalore visit in May. Both my sisters and four kids where home. So it was a nice family reunion.

Watched my Youngest nephew from LA explore his grandma's home

Took my niece and nephew to the beach

Watched the crab dig holes

And few lonely moments at the beach thinking of someone!